Method:
Heat a saucepan of water over medium-high heat, and add in a few teaspoons of salt. Bring the water to a rolling boil, then add in enough pasta for you.

Meanwhile, smash, peel and chop the garlic cloves and prepare your vegetables. Dribble some olive oil in a small skillet, set it over medium-low heat and swirl the pan around to spread the oil around the base. When the oil is sufficiently warmed, add in the garlic – watch it sizzle. Once you can smell the garlic, add in the zucchini slices and saute them for 2-3 minutes. Add in a pinch of dried mint, rubbing them between your fingers as you go. Finally, add in the frozen baby peas, and cook for 2 minutes. Stir occasionally so nothing burns!

When the pasta is cooked al dente, drain it and put it on a plate. Pour the vegetables on top, then add the parmesan and torn basil leaves. Add a sprinkle of salt and black pepper… serve immediately.

What a day…… for part of the afternoon, I was draped like a sick bird (or ballerina with 2 broken legs) on the couch at home. I had left work early because I couldn’t sit straight or think straight there after all. My head was totally achey, and I felt chocked up with rubbish. Hello Sore Throat, Runny Nose, Achey Eyes… :-(

How absolutely disgusting, after a splendid weekend with friends in Beach Wonderland (Coro). Maybe I overdosed on sun……? Is such a thing possible after too much cold wind in Wellington???

Anyway. In view of my exploding head and growing nausea I decided to do 3 things:
1. have a bath (mmmm)
2. wash my bedsheets (at long last)
3. make something in the kitchen

It is thing-to-do #3 that I will write about today.

Peeked in the fridge. What did I have? Oh yes, lemons aplenty from my parents.

I thumbed through “Falling Cloudberries” (as is my habit now) lazily, not really thinking I would make something from here today. But to my delight, I saw:

#7 Little Lemon Cakes – Page 261

OK! I feel immediately better.

I made the mix with the butter, sugar, egg yolk, vanilla, flour, lemon rind, milk, baking powder – mmm what a good smell! And put dollops of it into two muffin trays since I haven’t yet bought myself ramekins.

Alas, the icing sugar didn’t really work, and I don’t know how to fix it. It was just wet and clumpy – so I guess I won’t be using it…

Hmmm and the oil and flour on the trays were evidently not enough… the cakes are stuck… oops. Taste = fluffy and light and lemony, not too bad.

Enchant, stay beautiful and graceful, but do this, eat well. Bring the same consideration to the preparation of your food as you devote to your appearance. Let your dinner be a poem, like your dress.
~ Charles Pierre Monselet, French journalist